About the Artist
Mordechai Hazan is a rather unorthodox Orthodox Jew. At his art studio,
the spirited Israeli native dances visitors around a porcelain palace of Noah's
Ark Dreidels replete with 3-D giraffes and tigers, kaleidoscope-colored
Seder Plates and Menorahs, with hand-sculpted roses and butterflies, and whimsical,
handmade $100 Mezuzahs. These are not your Bubbie's blue and white
Tchotchkes!
"Obviously, there are religious links to my art. But when I create, it's with a lot of freedom," admits Hazan, who, since 1988, has earned a reputation selling his "usable Jewish collectibles" at his studio and in Judaica stores and Galleries around the globe.
Hazan is part of a renaissance in Jewish ceremonial art that has its roots in the '70's. "It's a fabulous phenomenon which is still thriving," says Skirball curator Grace Cohen Grossman. Indeed. But sacred Mezuzah cases adorned with brass instruments (special orders for Herb Alpert and Robby Helperin) or an electric guitar (Neil Diamond)?
Visitors to Hazan's gallery won't be disappointed with Hazan's creativity as they choose from a variety of themed Mezuzahs, Menorahs, Kiddush Cups, Shabbat Candlesticks, Tzedakah Boxes and Seder Plates. Customers can also request made-to-order pieces or commission Hazan for larger projects.
The above text is from an article written by Judy Raphael published in the Los Angeles Times Magazine on May 9, 1999.
